The End of the World {2 Peter 3}

As we “Read Through the Bible”, cover to cover – one chapter a day, we are going to come to passages that typically I would never blog about – but here we are!!! We are in 2nd Peter chapter 3 and guess what it’s about –the End of the World as we know it!

This is fascinating friends. So join me as we read about how the world will end.

2 Peter 3:1-4 says:

1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved.

In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

This chapter begins with the church being mocked because Jesus had not returned yet. Now remember that Peter is writing to persecuted Christians who have been scattered and running for their lives. They are already discouraged and now this mockery adds to their mental anguish.

What is Peter’s comfort for those suffering?

A reminder to remember the Old Testament and New Testament scriptures!

When we are down and discouraged we need to always remember to turn to God’s word. Remember the words of the holy prophets, the apostles and of the Lord!

Note in verse 3 why the mockers mocked. They were following their own sinful desires.

Consider this, people do not always deny creation and a belief in a holy God because it’s unbelievable but sometimes it’s simply because they don’t want to be held accountable on judgement day for their lifestyle choices. Perhaps for most people, this is less of an intellectual pursuit and and more of a lust for self-indulgence. Atheism and evolution are convenient tools for many who don’t want to give up their sinful desires.

Let’s continue reading in 2 Peter 3:5-7

5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

This passage tells us the world begins and ends with God!

Actually, it goes one step further and it tells us that the world began and will end by the “word of God”. He spoke it into existence and he’ll speak it out of existence!

Gulp – wow! We serve a mighty God.

Now look at verse 5 where it says that the earth was formed out of water and then in verse 6 it was deluged with water and perished. This reference is to the days of Noah. Remember the rainbow when Noah left the ark? That rainbow was a promise that God would never flood and destroy the earth with water again.

So according to verse 7, what will God use to destroy the earth this time?

Fire.

Water and fire – two necessary elements for survival – also used for destruction. The earth is covered in water with waters above as well. The earth’s core is fire, along with stars – fire balls in the sky – as well.

Let’s continue on to verses 8-10:

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Time –time seems to fly everyday here. But even though we may think a lot of time has passed – that is not necessarily how God sees it. According to verse 8, a thousand years is like a day to God! He does not work on our timetables. God exists outside of limited time. (mind baffling right?)

While the scoffers think that God’s patience is a problem – we understand the purpose of His patience. The purpose is redemptive.

Consider this – the world has not ended yet because before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 4:1), God chose you and me to live in 2014 and become his children!

Another wow moment, right?

But then we see emphatically in verse 10…

…BUT… the day of the Lord WILL come! Oh friends, He is coming and when he comes –it will be like a theif in the night!

Now here’s the application in verses 11-18:

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Some applications from verses 11-18:

Be holy.

Be Godly.

Watch and wait for the coming of the Lord.

Be spotless.

Be at peace.

Share the gospel as the Lord is patient unto salvation.

Do not get carried away by error or lose your stability.

Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.

And one final (politically incorrect) thought:

While it is important that we steward God’s creation well, may we not spend our days trying to “save the planet.” As we see in 2 Peter 3, God has plans to destroy our planet by fire. May we have a godly perspective, which according to this passage would mean we long for the day the Lord returns and creates a new heaven and a new earth. Until then, may we spend our time seeking to save souls rather than the planet.

And grace. Enjoy the planet. Steward the planet. But never worship the planet.

Walk with the King,

Courtney

**Chime In: What have you learned this week through your study in the book of 2 Peter?

Comments

I find so much comfort knowing that one day this earth will be a beautifully restored place that it was intended to be…just as each of our hearts and hurts will be restored to the way we were intended to be with God. Through Jesus we are healed now, but how anxious I am to see everyone not struggle anymore with the sins of our flesh.
Love reading the knowledge God has given you with His Word. 🙂
Cooking Up Faithhttp://www.cookingupfaith.org

I don’t get to this as much as im supposed to. I have recently made a commitment to my church and to myself that I must learn more and be more. This study today was excellent and I will plan for this quiet time each morning to help my relationship with God grow! What a great feeling to know all he has done, is doing and will do!

Thank you Courtney for such a beautiful explanation of this Word. For myself, I went through a period where I wondered… if God could destroy the world in Noah’s time, if He could destroy Sodom and Gomorrah…how offended must He be our generations! About 20 years ago I was sure He would send fire to destroy us…the world seemed so evil then. The world is so much more evil now! I love how you reminded us that God is patient for redemptive purposes. Yes, He desires all to be with Him! I pray that time doesn’t run out for some of us!

I’m loving this study and your blog posts. They are very encouraging and Spirit filled! I think my biggest take away from this book was actually in Chapter 1. I am comforted by the reminder that “His divine power has granted to [me] everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). In Him, I lack nothing!! Amen 🙂

Thank you Courtney for this post. I knew that this scripture existed (via Church & my Grammy), however it’s the first time I’ve read it with my own eyes. Not only do I love this scripture, but your observations are enlightening to read as well. Wishing you a blessed day!

Thank you Courtney, enjoying your blog and study. I agree with Christine, I love that passage that says “He has given us everything we need for life and godliness” etc., I find this passage such a comfort in those times when you feel you can’t cope. I tell myself I can cope because He has given me everything I need for life, and He is always with me. Keep blogging x

Love how you stated God is patient for redemptive purposes. YES! And I’m so thankful. Anytime I get frustrated and impatient waiting on His return, I need to remember that statement. If His patience would have run out before I knew Him, where would I be? What about my family and friends who don’t know Him now? Oh Thank You, Lord for your Patience!!! Amen!

Good reminder that we need to get serious, to live with urgency and real commitment to God, and as you stated last week, to fear God. It is easy to take God for granted but we need to live in reverent fear of Him and in a sense of urgency for these days and true purity and stop allowing those small sins to seep into our lives and mar our walk, and make us ineffective for the kingdom. Thanks for sharing.

Courtney, I just have to tell you my son ( Steven, 36 years old) who is physically challenged and developmental delayed has asked to join us in our reading through the Bible, he has read starting on day one. I found a site that reads the scriptures to him and he follows along with it in his Bible. I was afraid that this may be too much for him , but he is plugging away each and everyday. I just had a conversation with him and he told me he is enjoying it but wished he could write notes down as I am doing. You have reached him also through the Lord’s guidance of reading through the Bible. We were also discussing the reading schedule , I print a schedule out each Sunday morning for him as he can only see the schedule for a week at a time. Courtney you have blessed me and also my son tremendously, I am typing this through tears of joy. May our Lord Bless you and your ministry.
Love you Sister In Christ

May we walk earnestly this life we have been called to in the faith of God through Christ with all sincerity and truth counting the days til He comes admonishing those claiming to have received Him as Savior but still walking in unrighteousness, to the things of life and godliness given to us in His divine power through the knowledge of Him, and witnessing to those who are lost to the knowledge of truth of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior by the gospel unto salvation!

Courtney: I so enjoy your enlightening the scriptures to us each week. You have a gift of sharing scriptures and pulling out truths. I’m enjoying outlining the chapters I’ve been reading. I will be outlining chapter 3 as well today. Your insights have given me much to think about. In outlining chapter 2 yesterday, I learned so much about false prophets and their greedy souls, so prevalent in our world today. I, too, as well as the others who posted here, am looking forward to the day that Christ returns and so glad for His patience towards us.

I’ve been trying to keep up with the blogging through the bible series!!! I thought this was a wonderful idea!!! I loved how you broke down this chapter for us to receive a deeper understanding of God’s word!!! Love you and your ministry!!! Praying for you and the WLW ministry!

I’m asking for your prayers please!!! Please pray for me!!! I recently lost my mom suddenly, dealing with that!!! My hubby is in grad school, which has me on children duty a lot more often, but the one person I would always talk to was my mom and she’s not here!!! Please keep me in prayer!!! I desire to keep my family on the right track on a schedule but I really miss my mom and just wanna stay in bed all day!!! Its the truth!!!

Wendy, so wonderful to ready your comment about your son reading with us and being blessed by Courtney’s ministry.
Courtney, loved your post here and you’re spot on with everything you said.
Have a blessed day everyone 🙂
Denise

Courtney the Lord is definitely upon you working through you!!! You’re writing is such a blessing to me, challenging me to go deeper in my walk, to stay faithful, and encouraging me. Thank you for being a faithful servant and sharing what God has shown you with all of us.

This ministry is such an amazing resource. It’s been ram in the bush for me. I am a young mom with a 1 year old little boy who only stops moving when he is sleeping. I desire to study the Word of God with others, but our home church does a lot small groups in homes. I have been just too afraid of going to one and my son being disruptive and refusing to sit still for that long. There are mommy bible study groups nearby where you can bring your kids, but they are designed for stay-at-home moms (always at 10am on a Wednesday) and with a heavy heart I had to go back to work after the birth of my son. I often feel forgotten by God in this area, but having an online group of women to share God’s word with just encourages me so much. I also loved the passage that says that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. This place right here is proof to me that that is true. I thank God for showing me the truth of this promise. I’m blessed to be participating while sitting on my lunch break in my office at work. It may sound silly, but I feel a little more convinced today that He cares about all moms, even the ones that find themselves far from home each day.

I read the Bible (NIV- Praise God for whoever came up with that!) daily outside of my regular church attendance, but often times don’t quite ‘get’ something or whatnot, and that can be discouraging. Your blogging through the Bible is helping me a great deal in that you go through the chapter and break things down in a way that I can understand. This is SO wonderful. I was saved 3 years ago and have really struggled with reading on my own. Folks have told me to give it time and that I will begin to understand it as God reveals things to me, which I have seen progress in this, but it’s usually in church when my pastor has gone through whatever the message is and has explained what the scripture meant. I really appreciate you and your willingness to use and follow God’s plan for you which, apparently for me, that means you help teach me the Bible! It’s kind of like having church whenever I want it/need it by visiting these blogs as much as I want to. I’m not confined to Sundays and Wednesdays. Thank you so very much! Much love in Christ….. Dawn C.

I’m a few days behind, getting caught up! I loved your perspective on the planet. I’ve never thought about it that way before. I’ve always felt a little strange when people get upset about environmental stuff. Maybe this perspective is why and I never realized it. I do believe we need to be good stewards but saving the planet sounds strange.